08/29/2026
What is happening to the way we treat one another?
Twice in one week, I walked away from ordinary customer-service encounters asking myself that question.
I had ordered takeout from a well-known restaurant chain and paid for it online. When I arrived, employees repeatedly walked past me without making eye contact or asking if I needed help. Five minutes passed. I could see a bag sitting on a shelf that I suspected was mine, but no one acknowledged me.
Finally, I asked if someone could help me. I left carrying my food and a question much heavier than the bag: When did serving another person become such an inconvenience?
But before we point fingers, I think there's another question worth asking: How are we treating the people God places in front of us?
Colossians 3:23 NLT says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
My newest Messenger-Inquirer column, “Who Are You Working For?”, is about customer service, work ethic, grace, respect, and remembering Who we're ultimately working for.
Read the full column here:
https://www.shapedbyfaith.com/christian-work-ethic/
I'd love to know your thoughts. How can each of us do a better job of showing kindness, courtesy, and respect to the people God places in front of us?
